This Week in Duval County History, November 11 — 17
POSTED BY: CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM NOVEMBER 11, 2019
November 11
Tibilier-Martinet wed
November 11, 1883, Father Peter Bard assisted at the wedding of Claude Tibilier and Leona Martinet in San Diego.
Corpus Christi Caller, November 18, 1883
November 12
New postmaster for Benavides
Alex Sterling was appointed Benavides Postmaster on November 12, 1883.
Postmasters and Post offices of Duval County, Texas, 1873-1930
November 13
Duval County Politics, More than 400 Votes thrown Out on a technicality, changing the results
County commissioners met on November 12 and November 13 to canvass election. They threw out Benavides and Rosita votes because the clerk failed to place the whole number of votes cast in the precinct, yet the votes for each candidate were plainly put down.
Commissioners Corkill and Ridder voted to throw out votes. Commissioners Hebron and Eznal voted against. Judge Luby broke the tie to throw out votes. More than 400 votes were thrown out.
Laredo Daily Times, November 15, 1888
November 14
San Diego siftings
Fiestas and Mexican circus attracted large crowds under moonlight nights.
Messiers Parkman and Glover erected steam grist mill; planned to start grinding that week. They had ordered a cotton gin to be put in operation in few weeks hence.
Several thousands of pounds of cotton produced and more will be planted if gin is built. Good corn and cotton country. Labor is cheap. Good climate.
Men of San Diego gave complimentary hop at Guerra’s Hall. Laredo band furnished music. San Diego’s prettiest girls in attendance.
Cold norther arrived Thursday.
Corpus Christi Caller, November 14, 1886
November 15
Commissioners Court 1877
Duval County Commissioners Court fined the tax collector $15 for contempt of court. The action came because the tax collector failed to provide a supplemental roll of taxes as ordered by the court and because he did not have an excuse for the failure. While court minutes do not name the tax collector, during the early years of Texas county government the sheriff of the county was the tax collector. In the case of Duval County, it was R.P. Fly. The sheriff may have been a little miffed at this turn of events for he resigned from office at the same meeting. On the other hand, he may have failed to produce the tax roll because he was planning on resigning.
The Commissioners Court accepted Fly’s resignation “with regret” and gave him the thanks of the county for “his past good services.” The court tabled action on paying the sheriff’s bills. Two days later, the court settled accounts with the sheriff paying him $223.05 for keep and guard of prisoners, $180.75 for attendance at courts’ sessions and $54.10 for handcuffs and leg irons.
Political intrigue may well have been in the air at that time, as Justice of the Peace John Humphries also tendered his resignation a few days later, during the same term of the court. The court acted immediately on this resignation, expressed no regrets or well wishes as they had with Fly but instead named Humphries as the new Sheriff and Tax Collector in place of Fly. Leading citizens lined up to guarantee the three bonds totaling $30,000 that Humphries filed for the positions. Among the sureties were N.G. Collins, E.G. Perez, E.G. Garza, Jose M.G. Treviño, Pablo Perez, John J. Dix, Gueydan Brothers, Fly and W. Hubbard.
At the same meeting, commissioners appointed P.A. Matteson as Justice of the Peace to replace Humphries, approved his bond backed by Hubbard and Collins and administered him the oath of office.
In other action, the court agreed to extend the rental agreement with Manuel Ancira for the county courthouse building. Plans were underway to secure a new courthouse but Ancira gave the county an additional six months, beginning on January 1, 1878, to use the building for $40 per month, an increase from the $33.33 monthly average during the first year agreement, which was for $400 a year. Commissioners appointed a three-man committee to begin corresponding with an architect and iron dealers for a new courthouse and jail. Serving on the committee were County Judge James Luby, Collins, and Matteson. The commissioners directed the committee to get plans and specifications for a 36×40-foot courthouse to cost no more than $4,000. The jail was to be of 2×6-foot “spiked boards” or an iron cage. The committee had until the court’s December 17, 1877 meeting to gather the information.
Finally, the court approved paying Dix, who was the county surveyor, $727.13 for his work in setting out the boundary lines for the county. The court also ordered the road overseer for precinct one to begin work on the road to Concepcion, especially on the road’s crossing of the San Diego Creek. Work on roads in other precincts was to proceed upon Dix’s notification.
Duval County Commissioners Minutes, Book A
November 16
From Benavides
November 16 – Cotton was being ginned in Benavides and San Diego. Julian Palacios of Concepcion was shipping bell pepper, garlic, etc. to Laredo.
Archie Parr received five Durham Bulls and two stallions at his ranch near Benavides.
John Megerul, the road overseer for the precinct, placed a number of people to work on San Diego road. It was never worked.
In San Diego, a free for all broke out between natives and officers. Started over a game of monte. County attorney warned that he would enforce the state’s gambling laws and to the surprise of everyone no “tiger dens” have opened to entice youths. Also, no gambling had been seen through open doors in Benavides.
Rangers jailed three smugglers and three others got away in the brush. They had horses and mescal. Smugglers had been making it unbearable for ranchers.
Dep. Sheriffs Archie McNeil and John Corrigan were visiting in Benavides.
Corpus Christi Caller, November 17, 1899
November 17
Anna Collins dies in San Diego
Ann Collins, the wife of N.G. Collins and daughter of Kletus Hoffman, died November 17, 1906. She was characterized by her charity, Christianity and love and pity for the oppressed. She did everything in her power to contribute to the poor and in her will left aside money for Catholic church and schoolhouse for San Diego.
“Anna Norman Collins Public School, San Diego, Tex.” UTSA LIBRARIES COLLECTION, General Photograph Collection
Vintages Photos circa the 1910s Courtesy Bill Moran and Rudy Torres From Texasescapes.com
Texas: The Country and Its Men
5 COMMENTSON "THIS WEEK IN DUVAL COUNTY HISTORY, NOVEMBER 11 — 17"
Clementina Casas Charles (Pederson) | November 13, 2019 at 8:58 am | Reply
I enjoyed reading your great stories about Duval County.
Thank you so much!cardenas.ae@gmail.com | November 17, 2019 at 9:46 am | Reply
Thank you, Clementina!Cynthia Palacios | November 12, 2019 at 8:51 pm | Reply
Love reading this from California, Julian Palacios was my great great grandfather and Archie Parr was married to my Great Great Aunt Elizabeth Allencardenas.ae@gmail.com | November 17, 2019 at 11:25 am | Reply
Thank you, Cynthia. Glad you are enjoying them.cardenas.ae@gmail.com | November 19, 2019 at 9:03 am | Reply
Thank you, Cynthia.
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